BG99745A - Method and system for signaling of selective call by combined personal call with a wide range of operation and high-speed data transmission by radio telephone receiving-transmition stations - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooperative paging system (10) and radio telephone system (15) combine to provide conventional delivery of short paging messages to a combination pager/radio telephone (40) via a first communication path, while a radio telephone link operating at a higher data rate is used to deliver large data messages to the pager/radio telephone (40). The radio telephone link is formed by a transceiver section (205) of the pager/radio telephone (40) coupling to a radio telephone base station (50,52) and calling up a paging terminal (32) of the paging system (10). The paging terminal (32) retrieves the large data messages from a temporary message memory (42) to deliver to the pager/radio telephone (40).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a combination of a personal call system and a radio telephony system, and in particular to a method and apparatus for high-speed transmission of longer messages to a personal call radio receiver connected to a radio telephone transceiver station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Selective call systems (eg, personal call systems or so-called paging systems) provide a one-way radio frequency connection for selective call messages, called paging messages, from the sender to the selective call receiver (pager). The sender of the message connects via the public switched telephone network system or other incoming transmission interfaces to the personal call system, and transmits the message information to a personal call terminal. The message information is encoded in a conventional signaling protocol modulated by a carrier signal and transmitted as a radio frequency signal to a personal call receiver. The paging receiver receives the signal, demodulates it to recover (detect) the message and provide it to the user of the receiver.

Air time is a very valuable '' commodity in selective call systems. Companies offering selective call services want to provide services to a large number of subscribers (receiver users) to achieve high revenue. With short speech (audio) and digital messages, the length of the message does not affect the throughput of the message. However, alphanumeric messages can present some difficulties. Paging input devices containing alphanumeric characters include PCs that can generate extremely long messages. In addition, senders may wish to send longer voice messages, graphic images and fax messages.

To increase the bandwidth of long messages, the data rate of the personal call system can be increased. However, the speed of data transmission, however, has limitations imposed by the implementation of broad-range personal-call systems. For example, the inter-symbol interference generated by multiple distortions becomes a significant limiting factor in personal call systems transmitting at the same time as the data rate increases above 6 kilobits per second.

In addition, data rates have limitations imposed by governmental institutions such as the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). For example, intrinsic channel interference can be generated from high-speed signals, and the FCC can determine the maximum power of signal emissions if the intrinsic channel disturbances rise above a certain level.

Thus, what is needed is a high-speed data transmission scheme for handling long alphanumeric, voice, graphic and facsimile selective call messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for transmitting messages to a personal call system is provided, which comprises the following sequence of actions: receiving the message information; determining whether the message information is longer than a predetermined length; storing the message information in memory if its length is greater than the predetermined one; transmitting a predefined message to the called subscriber via the first communication route, the predefined message indicating that the message information is stored in memory. The method also includes the actions of: connecting the called subscriber through a second communication route; detecting and displaying the message information from memory and transmitting it to the subscriber of the personal call system through the second communication route.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a selective call receiver is provided, comprising means for receiving personal call signals from a personal call terminal through a first communication route, decoding means coupled to radio frequency receiving means, for decoding selective call signals to recover paging message, means for determining whether the message is a predefined paging message, and controls for connecting to a personalized call terminal If the message is a predefined paging message.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a diagram of a combination of a personal call system and a wireless telephone system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are block diagrams of the algorithm of operation of a personal call terminal in the combined personal call system with the wireless telephone system of Fig. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a combination of a paging receiver and a wireless telephone transceiver according to Fig. 1, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a personal call message processor in combination with a personal call receiver and a wireless telephone transceiver according to Fig. 4 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

According to FIG. 1, the selective call signaling system combines communication over a first communication route, such as a wide-range personal call system 10, and a second communication route, such as a wireless telephone system 15, and uses a public switched telephone network (OCTM). 20 for connection between them. The sender uses a paging message input device 25 to enter the personal call information through the public dial-up telephone network 20 for transmission to the subscriber of the personal call system 10.

Typically, the message input device 25 is a telephone for entering voice (audio) or digital information. The message input device 25 may also include a data processing device, such as a computer terminal, for generating personal call information including graphical, facsimile or alphanumeric information.

The sender compiles the message to be transmitted as personal call information to a computer terminal, and then dials through the modem or other device the numbers for access to the personal call system 10, thereby connecting the message input device 25 to the telephone network. the paging system interface 30 of the public switched telephone network route 20a. The paging information is then fed from the paging input device 25 to the telephone network interface 30 and then to the paging terminal 32 for processing. The terminal 32 accesses the subscriber database 34 to receive the subscriber address that joins the personal call information to form a paging message. The terminal 32 then sends the message to the message queue block 36 for later transmission.

The paging messages stored in the message stacking queue 36 are sequentially output through the personal call terminal 32 and transmitted to the personal call transmitters 38 for broadcast as selective call signals. A broad-range personal call system typically includes several transmitters that simultaneously transmit a personal call signal to increase the likelihood of receiving the message. To prevent excessive inter-character interference generated by multiple distortions, the personal call signaling rate is maintained below 6 kilobits per second.

Selective call signals transmitted by the Paging System 10 are received by a combined paging receiver with a radio telephone, such as a combination of a pager and a wireless telephone transceiver 40. The receiver receives the selective call signals and the wireless telephone transceiver, as a second generation wireless telephone transceivers (CT-2), it can be connected to the public switched telephone network 20 via the wireless telephone system 15.

In accordance with the present invention, the personal call terminal 32 determines which messages are too long. Long overdue messages are stored in the temporary memory of messages 42 for successive withdrawal. The terminal 32 generates a preset paging message, which is then transmitted through the transmitter 38 to the combined transceiver 40. After receiving the predefined paging message, the wireless transceiver communicates with the nearest local call station of the wireless telephone system 15 via

Сигнал transmitting a signal to the local call transceiver 50, including receiver 50a and transmitter 50c. The signals received from the receiver 50a are transmitted for processing to the call controller 52. Once connected, the combined pager / cordless telephone 40 signals to the call controller 52 to connect to the public telephone switched network 20 via telephone network interface 54 and call of the personal call system 10 on route 20c. As soon as the call controller 52 connects to the personal call terminal 32, the longer message is output from the message temporary memory 42 and transmitted to the combined pager and cordless telephone 40.

Alternatively, the second communication route may be a cellular telephone system comprising base sections for connecting cellular telephones to the public dial-up telephone network 20. The pager could be combined with a cellular telephone to connect to a personal call terminal 32 through the cellular telephone system.

According to figure 2, the scheme of the algorithm of operation of the personal call terminal 32 depicts the route for entering the message. After startup 100, the processing process controls the telephone network interface 30 (FIG. 1) to wait for the incoming call 102 to be received by the message input device 25 (FIG. 1). When an incoming call 102 is received, the terminal 32 generates a sound prompt 104 inviting the caller (i.e., the message sender) to enter the message followed by an end signal. The end signal indicates the end of the message. The personal call terminal 32 processes the incoming message 106 until an end signal 108 is received.

Further, the subscriber identification code is called from the subscriber database 34 (Figure 1) 110. The length of the message is measured and if the length is not greater than the preset length 112, the call is processed using conventional personal protocols. 114. The paging message is then transmitted 118 to the message queue block of the personal call system (FIG. 1) and the process returns to the original free circle to wait for the next incoming call to be received. not 102.

If the length of the message is greater than the predetermined length 112, it is checked that there are errors 120 in the message. If there are errors in the message 120, the process returns to produce a sound prompt 104 inviting the caller to re-enter the message. If there are no errors in the message, together with the subscriber identification code 122 is stored in the temporary memory of the messages 42 (Fig. 1). Terminal 32 generates a preset paging message including an address corresponding to the stored subscriber identification code and one preset message

124. The predefined paging message when received by the combined transceiver (FIG. 1) indicates that the longer message is stored in the message temporary memory 42. Alternatively, an address corresponding to the subscriber identification code that is intended to indicate the storage of the longer message can be incorporated into the predefined paging message. The pre-defined paging message is then sent 118 to the message queue block 36 of the Paging System 10 (FIG. 1) for subsequent broadcast.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the algorithm of operation of the terminal 32 for the message output order in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. After startup 150, terminal 32 controls the telephone network interface 30 (FIG. 1) to wait for the reception of the message output message 152. When a request for message output 152 is detected, a tone response 154 is generated and the received signal is checked for is obtained with a predefined security ID 156.

If the security identification code is not received within a preset time 156, the personal call terminal terminates, terminating the call. If the security identification code is received 156, the message to be output from the message temporary memory 42 (FIG. 1) is identified

460 of the subscriber ^ received together with the security code by means of the identification code. The identified message is displayed 162 and transmitted over the telephone lines

164 to the wireless telephone transceiver and then to the receiver user.

Existing

CT-2 radio lines can support duplicate data rates of thirty-two kilobits per second, and in the near future will be able to support one-way transmissions at 64 kilobits per second.

This allows messages to be transmitted to the combination of high speed over pager and cordless telephone transceiver using wireless telephone connection and.

The message is transmitted 164 while its end is detected. When the end of message 166 is detected, the processing process waits for an indication from the wireless telephone that the message received without error 168.

If the message is received with error 168, it is retransmitted

164.

If the message is received without error 168, the personal call terminal (FIG. 1) sends an end signal and interrupts 170.

The terminal then deletes the message 172 from the message temporary memory (Figure 1) and the process returns to wait for the next message output signal 152.

According to FIG. 4, the combined personal call receiver with a wireless telephone transceiver (FIG. 1) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a personal call receiving unit 200, a wireless telephone transceiver unit 205, and a display control unit. 210. The paging unit 200 includes an antenna 212 for receiving paging signals, a radio tuned to the frequency of the paging channel 214 connected to the antenna to demodulate gnalite paging and selective decoder 216 for decoding the demodulated signal to restore broadcasting paging message.

The decoded message is sent to the message processor and display controller 220 for processing. In conventional operations, the decoded message is stored in message memory 222 and the user (subscriber) is notified via a signaling device 224 that a paging message has been received. User can activate

1, the user controllers and the display 226 for displaying the message from the memory 222 and displaying it in the message display 228. The controllers 226 may control the display (message screen) or change the reception parameters in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

The operation of the unit of the wireless telephone transceiver 205 is controlled by the telephone control logic circuit 230. Antenna 232 is used for the traditional reception and transmission of signals. The antenna 232 is connected to a switch 234 of the receive and transmit mode, which is controlled by the telephone control logic circuit 230. In one position, the switch 234 connects the antenna 232 to the radio frequency receiver of the telephone channel for processing the received radio frequency signals and transmitting them to the telephone control logic 230. In the second position, the switch 240 connects the antenna 232 to the telephone channel transmitter 240, which processes the signals received from the telephone control logic circuit 2 30 for transmitting radio frequency signal from antenna 232.

In an alternative embodiment, a loudspeaker 236 may be connected to receiver 236, and microphone 242 may be connected to transmitter 240 for operation as a conventional cordless telephone. In an alternative embodiment, receiver 236 provides the audio components of the signals to the loudspeaker and the digital components of the signals to the telephone control logic 230. The transmitter 240 will process the audio signals received from the microphone 242 and the digital signals received from the telephone control logic circuit 230 for radiation from the antenna 232.

In accordance with the present invention, the telephone control logic circuitry 230 is coupled to the message processor 220 for improved reception of longer messages. When the message processor 220 detects a predetermined decoded paging message, the telephone control logic circuit 230 sends a call signal to the call signaling terminal to a personal call 32 via the local call transceiver (Fig. 1).

As soon as the telephone control logic 230 is connected to the terminal 32 (FIG. 1), a longer message is output through the terminal 32 received through the radio frequency receiver of telephone channels 236 and sent to the message processor 220 via the telephone control logic circuit 230 The longer message is then stored in the message memory 222 and the user is notified of the received message via the alarm device 224. Thus, the message is output via wireless telephone tomatoes even and transparent to the user.

Alternatively, the message processor 220 may notify the user when a predefined message is received that the user must move to a local station on the wireless telephone system to receive the message.

Figure 5 shows the block diagram of the operation of the message processor and display controller 220 (Figure 4) in accordance with a preferred embodiment. After startup 300, the message processor 220 waits for the reception of a decoded personal call message 302 transmitted by the selective decoder 216 (FIG. 4). When a selective call message 302 is received, the processing process determines whether the received message is a preset paging message 304 indicating that a long message is stored in the temporary message memory 42 (FIG. 1).

If the decoded message is not the preset paging message 304, the message is stored 306 in the message memory 222 and the user is notified via the signaling device 224 (FIG. 4), in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. On the other hand, if the predefined paging message 304 is detected, the message processor 220, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, communicates with the wireless telephone transceiver unit 205 (FIG. 4) to determine 308 when the combined pager with a cordless telephone transceiver 40 is within the scope of the local calling telephone station 50 (FIG. 1).

According to a preferred embodiment, the system operates automatically and is understood by the user. The longer message is output from the personal call system and stored in the message memory 222 (Figure 4) before the user is notified that a message has been sent. Alternatively, the user may be alerted 307 by instructing that the message is waiting to be displayed and that the user should head to the nearest local telephone station.

When the user is within range of the local telephone station 308, the message processor 220 sends a signal 310 to the telephone control logic circuit 230 (FIG. 4) to connect to the personal call terminal 32 (FIG. 1). If, after a call 310 at terminal 32 (FIG. 1), no tone - response 312 is received within a predetermined time, the processing process returns to determine if the wireless pager is still within the scope of the local calling telephone. station 308.

When a response tone is received, the message processor 220 generates a message output message 314 including the security identification code and the subscriber identification code corresponding to the personal call receiver and transmits it to the block of the wireless telephone 205 for broadcast.

The security identification code prevents unauthorized access to messages stored in the temporary memory of messages 42 (Figure 1). The message processor then receives the message 316 derived from the temporary memory of the messages 42 through the terminal 32 and sends it to the combined pager 40 via the public dial-up telephone network 20 and the high-speed wireless telephone system 15 (eg 32 or 64 kilobytes) for second). Thus, for a time much shorter than the air time required to send excessively long messages from the personal call system 10, the message can be output 316 with an end signal indicating the end of the message 318.

The present invention also provides an additional advantage by allowing the message processor 220 to use conventional means of detecting and correcting forward errors to determine whether a message is received with errors 320, and to signal a personal call terminal 32 for resending the message 322 or parts thereof if data tampering or errors are detected. When the message is received without error 320, it is stored 306 in the message memory 222 and the user is notified that a message has been received.

It should be appreciated that a combination of a paging system and a wireless telephone system, which combines the best features of the two systems, is provided to provide increased throughput of personal calls through the ability to send longer messages without undue load. the personal call system. The paging system provides the usual personal call actions and transmits short messages to the user, while the wireless telephone connection (which operates at a higher data rate) is used to transmit long messages to the user in an accessible manner.

Claims (10)

Patent Claims 1. A method for transmitting messages to a personal call system, characterized in that it comprises the following sequence of actions: (a): receiving the message information; (6) determining whether the message information has a length greater than a predetermined message length; (c) storing the message information in memory (42) if its length is greater than the predetermined one; (d) transmitting a predetermined message to a personal call receiver (40) through the first communication route, the predetermined message indicating that the message information is stored in memory (42); (e) automatically connecting to a personal call receiver (40) through a second wireless communication route in response to a predetermined message; (f) removing the message information from the memory and (g) transmitting the message information to the personal call receiver (40) through the second communication route. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after the action (b) for determining the length of the message, the action (61) for transmitting to the personal call receiver (40) via the first paging communication path comprising message information if the message information is not longer than the preset one. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the paging message including the message information is transmitted to the personal call receiver (40) via the first communication route with a single data rate and the transmission of the message information to the paging receiver (40) via the second communication route is at a different data rate. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second communication route comprises a cellular telephone system (15) connected to the telephone network (20). A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second communication route comprises a wireless telephone system (15) connected to the telephone network (20). 6. A selective call signaling system comprising a plurality of selective call receivers capable of transmitting a message output message, characterized in that it comprises a telephone interface (30) for receiving over-length personal call messages, a terminal for a personal call (32) connected to the telephone interface (30), to determine if the personal call messages are excessively long messages and to generate a preset selective call message, if a personal call message is too long, and a temporary message memory (42) for storing excessively long messages and transmission means (38) for wireless transmission of signals to the personal call terminal (32) are respectively connected. selective calls that are not excessively long, as well as excessively long personal call messages, wherein said personal call terminal (32) outputs one of said excessively long personal call messages; not in said memory (42), in response to a message output signal sent by a selective call receiver and received by a personal call terminal. System according to claim b, characterized in that the telephone interface (30) comprises means for receiving (200) personal call messages and means for receiving signals for message output. A selective call receiver, characterized in that it comprises means for receiving personal call signals (236) from a personal call terminal through a first communication route, decoding means (216) connected to radio frequency receivers (200) decoding personal paging and paging message recovery means (200) for determining whether the paging message is a preset message and a control means (52) for automatically connecting to the personal call terminal (32) through a second wireless communication route in response to the determination means (220) indicating that the paging message is a predetermined message. A receiver according to claim 8, characterized in that the second communication route comprises a radio-telephone system (15) and the control means (52) comprises means for connecting to the radio-telephone system (15) and means for connecting (54) of the radio-telephone system to the personal call terminal (32). The receiver of claim 8, in combination with a transceiver (40) for connecting to a local transceiver (50) of a wireless telephone system, and wherein the control means (52) is connected to the determination means (220) and receive - the transmitting means (40) for connecting the receiving means - the transmitting means (40) to a local transceiver of a wireless telephone system for connection to the personal calling terminal (32) in response to the means of determining (220) that the message is a predetermined message .